CLIMATE CHANGE: Catholic Institutions Divest From Fossil Fuels

A group of 19 institutions, led by Caritas India and the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, announced new commitments to divest from fossil fuels.

PUBLISHED ON

Dec 2018

Divesting institutions in India join others in Pakistan and Bangladesh, reflecting unity on the subcontinent around the urgency of addressing the climate crisis. Institutions in Kenya and Fiji, which are on the front lines of the crisis in the global south, also announced their divestment.

Ireland is the second bishops’ conference in the world to publicly divest, following the Episcopal Conference of Belgium.

Catholic institutions are increasingly visible in the worldwide movement to divest from fossil fuels, with faith-based organizations representing a significant portion of registered commitments. To date, a total of 122 Catholic institutions have announced their commitments to step away from fossil fuels.

Tomás Insua, Executive Director of Global Catholic Climate Movement, said “For decades, the Church has called us to act on climate change. Now, as seas rise, deserts grow, and storms rage, the most vulnerable of our sisters and brothers are urgently calling us to make the courageous decisions that will protect them. The institutions divesting from fossil fuels today are doing their part to bend the curve of emissions downward, and we applaud their leadership and vision.”

Syria is particularly affected. War shaved off six years from men’s life expectancy (from 75 in 2010 to 69 in 2013), five from women’s (from 80 to 75). Millions of people have to face the consequences…